Army troops foil bandits’ attack on anyagba village in benue

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian Army troops of the Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have foiled a planned attack by armed bandits on Anyagba village in Benue State, neutralising one assailant and recovering a firearm and ammunition.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the joint team,comprising Army, PMF elements and state-backed civil protection guards, was alerted at about 4:00 p.m. to the movement of armed bandits toward Anyagba community, apparently with intent to launch an attack.

“The troops mobilised immediately toward the Utange axis where the bandits were sighted,” the source said.

“On sighting the joint team, the bandits opened fire, leading to a brief exchange. One suspect was fatally wounded during the encounter and later died while being evacuated for medical attention.”

The source said the corpse was deposited at a morgue, while the remaining suspects fled into nearby bushes.

Items recovered at the scene include one AK-47 rifle with breech number 22446, two magazines, three rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition and several expended shells.

“No casualty was recorded on the side of the joint forces,” the source added.

Following the incident, troops intensified combing operations in surrounding bushes to track and apprehend the fleeing suspects.

In a related development along the Katsina-Ala axis, a patrol team on stop-and-search duty recovered a locally fabricated pistol and a cartridge from a bag abandoned by a suspect who escaped on sighting the troops.

The military urged residents to remain vigilant and continue to provide timely information to security agencies to help prevent attacks and protect communities across the state.

Army troops foil bandits’ attack on anyagba village in benue

Gunmen kill five, abduct passengers in attack on Abuja–Ilesha bus in Kogi

By: Zagazola Makama

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed that five persons were killed and several others abducted in a deadly attack on a commercial bus along the Oshokoshoko/Agbede Highway near a military checkpoint in the state.

Sources said the incident occurred at about 12:10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, when heavily armed hoodlums blocked the highway and opened fire on vehicles in transit.

According to the source, an 18-seater Toyota bus with Jigawa State registration number HJA 687 YD, conveying passengers from Abuja to Ilesha, was riddled with bullets during the attack.

“Five unidentified corpses with gunshot injuries were recovered at the scene,” the source said.

The sources added that one of the passengers, identified as Naziru Aliyu, was rescued with gunshot wounds and rushed to Fisayo Hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital mortuary in Lokoja.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Obajana was said to have mobilised joint security teams to the area for assessment and rescue operations.

Further bush-combing and intelligence-led operations later led to the rescue of 14 additional passengers. They were identified as Qorib Akere, Hamsatu Umar, Maryam Abubakar, Alpha Abdullateef, Alpha Uammi Adamu, Sanni Yahaya, Engr. Wojuola Olajide, Ademola Ibrahim, Fidelis Ajeh, Musa Muhammed, Nehemiah Gyang, Kanini Moses and Simon Obadiah.

Some of the rescued victims sustained gunshot wounds and are currently receiving treatment at Fisayo Hospital.

The police said about four passengers from the bus are still unaccounted for.

The sources Investigation has commenced, while strategies for further rescue operations and the arrest of the perpetrators are being intensified.

The command assured residents and road users of its commitment to restore safety along the highway and bring the attackers to justice.

Gunmen kill five, abduct passengers in attack on Abuja–Ilesha bus in Kogi

Troops repel terrorist ambush attempt in Borno, neutralise one fighter

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have engaged and repelled suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists during an ambush operation in Borno State, neutralising one fighter and recovering arms and ammunition.

Sources said that the encounter occurred at about 1:40 a.m. on Jan. 31, 2026, when the troops made contact with the terrorists.

The sources said the terrorists fled in disarray after the troops opened fire, leading to immediate exploitation of the area.

“One terrorist was neutralised. One AK-47 rifle, one magazine and 19 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition were recovered,” the sources stated.

It added that troops expended 47 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition during the engagement, with no casualties recorded on the side of the military.

Troops repel terrorist ambush attempt in Borno, neutralise one fighter